Cispadana

Cispadana refers to a geographical and historical region in northern Italy. The name literally translates to "this side of the Po," referring to the territory south of the Po River, as viewed from the Alps. Historically, Cispadana was a part of Roman Gaul, specifically Cisalpine Gaul, which was conquered by the Romans in the 2nd century BCE. The region played a significant role in Roman expansion and administration.

In more recent history, the term Cispadana is closely associated with the Cispadane Republic, a short-lived client state of Napoleonic France. Established in 1797, it was one of the "sister republics" created by Napoleon Bonaparte following his invasion of Italy. The Cispadane Republic was formed from territories previously belonging to the Duchy of Modena and other areas. Its capital was Reggio Emilia. The republic adopted a tricolor flag featuring horizontal stripes of green, white, and red, with a central emblem. This flag is considered the precursor to the modern Italian flag. The Cispadane Republic was eventually merged with the Transpadane Republic to form the larger Cisalpine Republic in 1797. Today, the historical region of Cispadana encompasses parts of the modern Italian regions of Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy.